1 These be the names of the children of Israel, that entered into Ægypt with Jacob: they did enter in every one with their houses,
1 These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into Egypt with Jacob: they went in every man with his household:¹
2 Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judas,
2 Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda,
3 Issachar, Zabulon, & Benjamin,
3 Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin,
4 Dan, and Nephthali, Gad, and Aser.
4 Dan and Nephthali, Gad and Aser.
5 Therefore all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh were seventy: and Joseph was in Ægypt.
5 And all the souls that came out of Jacob’s thigh, were seventy: ²but Joseph was in Egypt.
6 Who being dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation,
6 After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation,
7 the children of Israel increased, and as it were springing up did multiply, and growing strong exceedingly, filled the land.
7 ³The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.
8 In the mean time there arose a new king over Ægypt, that knew not Joseph:
8 In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph:
9 and he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel is much, and stronger than we.
9 And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we.
10 Come, let us wisely oppress the same, lest perhaps it multiply: and if there shall be any war against us, it joined with our enemies, and we being overthrown, they depart out of the land.
10 Come let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome us, depart out of the land.
11 Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them with burdens: and they built unto Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom, and Ramesses.
11 Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them with burdens: and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom and Ramesses.
12 And the more they did oppress them, so much the more they multiplied and increased:
12 But the more they oppressed them, the more they were multiplied and increased.
13 and the Ægyptians hated the children of Israel, and deriding afflicted them:
13 And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted them and mocked them:
14 and they brought their life into bitterness with the hard works of clay and brick, & with all service, wherewith they were pressed in the works of the earth.
14 And they made their life bitter with hard works in clay and brick, and with all manner of service, wherewith they were overcharged in the works of the earth.
15 And the king of Ægypt said to the midwives of the Hebrews, of whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua,
15 And the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews: of whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua,
16 commanding them: When you shall be midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come, if it be a man-child, kill it: if a woman, reserve her.
16 Commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child, kill it: if a woman, keep it alive.
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not according to the commandment of the king of Ægypt, but preserved the men-children.
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded, but saved the men children.
18 To whom being called unto him, the king said: What is this that you meant to do, that you would save the men-children?
18 And the king called for them and said: What is it that you meant to do, that you would save the men children?
19 Who answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Ægyptian women: for they have the knowledge to play the midwife themselves, and before we come to them, they are delivered.
19 They answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they themselves are skilful in the office of a midwife; and they are delivered before we come to them.
20 God therefore did well to the midwives: and the people increased, and became strong exceedingly.
20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.
21 And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses.
21 And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses.
22 Pharao therefore commanded all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall be born of the male-sex cast it into the river: whatsoever of the female, reserve it.
22 Pharao therefore charged all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall be born of the male sex, ye shall cast into the river: whatsoever of the female, ye shall save alive.